Great Falls, Montana: We spent part of the day today driving north across this large state, on Interstate 15. We passed through two consequential towns, too small really to be called "cities" - Butte and Helena.
Most of Montana is wide open and very largely uninhabited. Perhaps it's the six month winters which discourage year-round residents or the very emptyness.
I don't think we dropped below an elevation of 4000 ft. today, while driving north perhaps 200 miles. I remember crossing the continental divide twice, and I may have missed a couple of crossings.
Much of the scenery was excellent, north of Butte there are lots of trees and mountains with streams just begging to be fished. We saw a few intrepid anglers but darned few considering how inviting it looked.
Great Falls is a small city, adjacent to a relatively major Air Force base: Malmstrom AFB. I believe it is involved with our ICBM force which tends to deploy across the north-central states.
The falls in the city's name no longer can be seen. Dams backed up the Missouri River and flooded them out. They were a major impediment to the Lewis and Clark expedition which had to portage around them, wasting precious weeks. The city is home to a very well-done Lewis and Clark museum on the banks of the Missouri.
Tomorrow we drive north to Canada, I'll write from Lethbridge if WiFi is available.
